HoopsVibe’s Call: Apparently, Vince Carter told a reporter he’d go into the stands to protect his mother from the Boston Celtics’ ‘passionate’ fans.

Fair enough. Most of us would do the same.

Frankly, the suits at league head office must be embarrassed by Carter’s comments. After all, players’ family members often take heat from fans, especially if they’re related to the road team.

Remember, perennial good guy Antonio Davis once leapt into the stands to protect his wife. A few years back, D.J. Mbenga, while with the Dallas Mavericks, went into the lower bowl to protect coach Avery Johnson’s wife, who was being heckled by opposing fans.

With this in mind, it’s easy to understand Carter’s comments.

Good organizations anticipate potential problems and take pre-emptive action, so the NBA, at a minimum, should provide the road team’s family with a safe, secure place to take in the game.

Continuing to ignore this problem will eventually lead to the worst case scenario: another ugly, ‘Malice N’ Tha Palace’ type confrontation between players and fans.

Is it the NBA’s responsibility to provide a safe place for family members to sit during games? Why? Why not?